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Astronaut, v. 1, issue 1, September 1947

Page 17

17
ASTRONAUT

with a final "pseudo-scientific explanation" as the point of the yarn. I'm inclined to be harsh because I am so genuinely disappointed in what they've put out here.

Well, this is probably the last you'll see of me for at least six months. I have, after a lot of stalling, finally deciding that I am going to work on my novel evenings. There is no other way to do it except to definitely start and keep plugging. And I want to get some book-length stuff out this year. So I'll work evenings from now on and try to turn out at least two books. May not be successful, and a hundred unforeseen things can come to interfere...but at least I'm going to start. So from now on until late summer, anyway, no more meetings or social life. And if I can really get something done, it's worth it! ROBERT BLOCH.

NEW WORLDS' EDITOR ON BRITISH SF

Dear Bob ((Stein -- not Bloch. EDS.)): Many thanks for a welcome fan letter from America. Even though you had plenty of legitimate complaints, I still enjoyed hearing from you.

Right off I must say that I agree with practically all your reactions to New Worlds, but can promise you now that I haven't been waiting for readers' letters to come in before doing anything about rectifying those editorial errors. I feel proud that you rate the mag better than most U.S. mags with the exception of ASF. At any rate, I feel we haven't done badly in two issues, considering all the circumstances this side of the Pond. The next issue (running late, but should be out end of Feb.), will justify your faith that New Worlds has "possibilities".

Those first two issues were the best of a very bad odd million words which have been kicking round this country for the past few years. Obviously, there couldn't be anything outstanding in them (with the exception of "Living Lies" and "Three Pylons" -- oh, and Brody's little short, "Foreign Body", which was a good idea. Rates second in the line-up, by the way.) But as from the next issue, the stories have been specially written or chosen. You'll see a pretty big difference. Watch Brody, too. He's one of my brightest finds as an author and has turned in a couple of beautiful futuristic atomic yarns. Aiken is coming in with some good stuff, too.

Art work -- not even I could sleep nights worrying over that defect. Seems like the few fans over here who could draw were shy. I kept rooting around, until out of the blue an artist who is a reader of fantasy wrote me a critical letter. The outcome of that is star artist Cyril Dennis comes up with most of the interiors in No. 3 -- and they're good. He's got a touch of Schneeman about him. And Harry Turner has just returned from India and will be featured in No. 4, probably doing the cover. So don't worry about the art work. JOHN CARNELL, 17, Burwash Road, Plumstead S. E. 18, England.

...ooOoo...

Saving...

17 ASTRONAUT with a final "pseudo-scientific explanation" as the point of the yarn. I'm inclined to be harsh because I am so genuinely disappointed in what they've put out here. Well, this is probably the last you'll see of me for at least six months. I have, after a lot of stalling, finally deciding that I am going to work on my novel evenings. There is no other way to do it except to definitely start and keep plugging. And I want to get some book-length stuff out this year. So I'll work evenings from now on and try to turn out at least two books. May not be successful, and a hundred unforeseen things can come to interfere...but at least I'm going to start. So from now on until late summer, anyway, no more meetings or social life. And if I can really get something done, it's worth it! ROBERT BLOCH. NEW WORLDS' EDITOR ON BRITISH SF Dear Bob ((Stein -- not Bloch. EDS.)): Many thanks for a welcome fan letter from America. Even though you had plenty of legitimate complaints, I still enjoyed hearing from you. Right off I must say that I agree with practically all your reactions to New Worlds, but can promise you now that I haven't been waiting for readers' letters to come in before doing anything about rectifying those editorial errors. I feel proud that you rate the mag better than most U.S. mags with the exception of ASF. At any rate, I feel we haven't done badly in two issues, considering all the circumstances this side of the Pond. The next issue (running late, but should be out end of Feb.), will justify your faith that New Worlds has "possibilities". Those first two issues were the best of a very bad odd million words which have been kicking round this country for the past few years. Obviously, there couldn't be anything outstanding in them (with the exception of "Living Lies" and "Three Pylons" -- oh, and Brody's little short, "Foreign Body", which was a good idea. Rates second in the line-up, by the way.) But as from the next issue, the stories have been specially written or chosen. You'll see a pretty big difference. Watch Brody, too. He's one of my brightest finds as an author and has turned in a couple of beautiful futuristic atomic yarns. Aiken is coming in with some good stuff, too. Art work -- not even I could sleep nights worrying over that defect. Seems like the few fans over here who could draw were shy. I kept rooting around, until out of the blue an artist who is a reader of fantasy wrote me a critical letter. The outcome of that is star artist Cyril Dennis comes up with most of the interiors in No. 3 -- and they're good. He's got a touch of Schneeman about him. And Harry Turner has just returned from India and will be featured in No. 4, probably doing the cover. So don't worry about the art work. JOHN CARNELL, 17, Burwash Road, Plumstead S. E. 18, England. ...ooOoo...